The official gateway to Devon museums

Robey Trust Perseverance Iron Works

The Robey Trust , based at the New Perseverance Ironworks, is a charity dedicated to continuing the traditions of the Robey Engineering Company of Lincoln. This involves not only the maintenance in working order of many Robey engines, the vast majority of them steam engines, but also continuing and transmitting to coming generations the expertise required to preserve and run these machines.

There is a wider aim of encouraging public access to and understanding of steam technology.

Robey Tandem No 42693

Rescued from a children's playground in 1983, this was the first engine to be owned and restored by the Robey trust.

Tri-tandem No 45655

This engine was built in 1930 and was working for long enough to help construct Britain's first major motorway, the M1. It is owned by a partnership of members who own £100 shares (shares still available) and is in the care of the Robey Trust.

Robey Class E Stationary Engine

Installed in 1905 at the Three Counties Hospital, Stotfield, Hitchen, to drive laundry
machinery and a water pump through a 9 ins wide flatbelt and overhead linshafts. Ceased work in the 1950s. Now restored and on display at the Perseverance Ironworks.

Robey Class C Stationary Engine

Installed at Cowley Road College of Further Education, Oxford as an experimental laboratory engine. Bought by the Robey Trust in 1986

42522 6-ton Steam Wagon 1924

Purchased from Alan Rundle in 2013. One of only 266 Robey wagons built.
​
Originally built as a six wheel articulated tanker wagon the engine and boiler were later used in a Robey tandem roller. However the numbered chassis remained and it was back converted as a 6-ton wagon.
​
A superb addition to the collection of a rare vehicle type.
​

Admission & prices

The Robey Perseverance Iron Works is open on Saturdays and Thursdays from 11 am. until 4 pm. Visits can be at other times by arrangement. There is no entry charge.

Find us

Tavistock Pixon Lane, from Plymouth Road; turn right after old railway bridge into parking area. Cross this and look for a junction on the right. Two roads lead from the junction. Take the right hand road and look for Robey works gates after 100m.

Information

A large engine hall houses the fixed and mobile engines. There is also a community room (with blackout for projection) which may accommodate up to forty people and for which there is also a kitchen.

The workshop behind the engine hall is primarily for the use of trust members, but active consideration is being given to the possibility of training schemes with the woodworking and metalworking machinery accommodated there.